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skills/blinding/SKILL.md

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+---
+name: blinding
+description: "Implement blinding procedures to reduce bias in experimental studies. Use when: (1) Designing RCTs, (2) Ensuring objectivity, (3) Meeting CONSORT standards, (4) Minimizing performance and detection bias."
+allowed-tools: Read, Write
+version: 1.0.0
+---
+
+# Blinding Procedures Skill
+
+## Purpose
+Implement appropriate blinding to reduce bias in research studies.
+
+## Types of Blinding
+
+**Single-Blind**: Participants unaware of allocation
+**Double-Blind**: Participants and researchers unaware
+**Triple-Blind**: Participants, researchers, and analysts unaware
+
+## Who to Blind
+
+**Participants**: Reduce expectancy effects, placebo
+**Interventionists**: Reduce performance bias
+**Assessors**: Reduce detection bias
+**Analysts**: Reduce reporting bias
+
+## Blinding Strategies
+
+**Medications:**
+- Identical placebo (same appearance, taste)
+- Over-encapsulation
+- Matching packaging
+
+**Behavioral Interventions:**
+- Attention-matched control
+- Active control condition
+- Blind outcome assessors
+
+**Assessments:**
+- Automated/computerized measures
+- Independent blinded raters
+- Objective outcomes (less bias-prone)
+
+## When Blinding Impossible
+
+- Surgical interventions
+- Exercise interventions
+- Educational programs
+
+**Mitigation:**
+- Blind outcome assessors
+- Use objective outcomes
+- Report lack of blinding as limitation
+
+---
+**Version:** 1.0.0